The cultivators ascended, displaying their full capabilities, heading directly beyond the heavens.

Among them, there were two rays of saber and sword light leading the way, reaching the peak of the nine skies in just a moment.

Ascension!

For Shen Hex, this was a very novel experience.

Because in the real world, which belongs to the cosmic universe, the entire world is a vast and infinite universe containing countless planets, even accommodating Immortal Gods, and there is no concept of ascension, merely cosmic travel from low-level planets to high-level planets.

In the two worlds previously experienced by Zhuang Zhou’s Dream of the Butterfly, although there were legends of Martial Shattering Void and Celestial Destiny Sacred Realm, upon deeper examination, Shen Hex discovered that those were completely imaginative fabrications by later generations and did not actually exist.

Therefore, the concept of ascension was a very novel experience for Shen Hex.

Because it pertains to the construction of "world" and "universe."

Based on Shen Hex’s investigations in the Taiyuan Realm over the years and some hypothetical theories collected from the real world, this Taiyuan should be an independent world of "round heaven square earth."

An independent world born in the Chaotic Void, containing all things within, including sun, moon, stars, the heavens and the underworld of ancient times, is such an isolated world.

However, this independence is not entirely independent, as there are other worlds present within the Chaotic Void, much like various planets in the real universe.

Therefore, Shen Hex inferred that what is called the Chaotic Void is actually a super-sized universe, with each world within it being a planet, except these planets have unique structures, forming heavens and earth, becoming worlds unto themselves.

Although they establish their own heavenly boundaries, they are still planets, with the sun, moon, and stars within them only considered small suns and moons, not the true Taiyin and Sun.

Shen Hex had conducted investigations on this matter; he had once ascended into the nine heavens to collect True Flame from the sun to refine a flying sword, and at that time, he discovered that the intensity of this sun was not as terrifying as the sun in the real world.

In the real world, the sun star within the universe is so fearsome that even little Divinity Transformation, let alone Immortals, Buddhas, Gods, and Demons, dare not approach it lightly for fear of being reduced to ashes.

But the sun of this world does not possess such formidable power, as Divinity Transformation can approach and use its flames for treasure refining.

Therefore, Shen Hex concluded that the sun in this world is not the true sun.

He speculated that within the Chaotic Void, there must be a sun star, or something akin to a "Solar Realm."

This existence, like the sun, burns and emits infinite light and heat, even piercing through the Chaotic Void and influencing other worlds to produce small suns within the boundaries.

Therefore, the worlds within the Chaotic Void are actually similar to various planets in the real universe, except with an internal structure that allows them to become independent heavens and boundaries, and to travel through them, one must possess the "Martial Shattering Void" power.

Depending on the realm’s status and the strength of the heavens, the requirements for Martial Shattering Void differ as well.

For the degraded Taiyuan, the minimum requirement for Martial Shattering Void is Divinity Transformation, capable of breaking through the world’s boundaries with full effort.

This is also the common standard for the Middle Thousand World.

Shen Hex raised his saber and sword, breaking through the nine heavens’ boundaries to reach the Outer Celestial.

The Outer Celestial, which is Chaos!

The Chaotic Void is boundless and infinite, composed of endless "chaos," the breeding ground of worlds. It is said that worlds can draw upon the power of chaos to strengthen themselves and nurture all things.

But now, outside the Taiyuan realm, there was no sign of chaos, only endless black demonic clouds.

This is precisely the Demon Heaven Array, the root of Taiyuan’s calamity.

"Hahaha, Old Ghost Qii, finally willing to show yourself?"

The moment the cultivators exited the realm, they heard a cold laugh, followed by the surging of demonic clouds, forming a human face.

"Mo Yunzi!"

At the Taihua Sword Edge, Qii Lingyun wore a resolute expression, gazing at the head sculpted by the demonic clouds: "You bring chaos to Taiyuan, committing countless sins. Today will be the day of your downfall!"

"Sins?"

"Hahaha!"

Mo Yunzi burst into wild laughter: "The sins of your Immortal Dao are the merits of my Demon Dao!"

In his words, the demonic clouds churned, and three sword lights emerged fiercely, each carrying a formidable demon’s might.

It was...

"Celestial Demon Slaying Immortal Sword!"

"Ten Thousand Spirits Immortal Slayer Sword!"

"Blood Sea Immortal Slaying Sword!"

The Three Fierce Swords appeared in the array, drawing on the power of Demon Heaven, manifesting the dharma aspects of Celestial Demon, Ten Thousand Spirits, and Blood Sea.

"Demon!"

Qii Yunming’s gaze sharpened, directing his eyes toward Shen Hex.

Shen Hex, for his part, was straightforward: "Everyone, refine and slay these three demons, leave the rest to us two."

"This..."

The cultivators hesitated upon hearing this. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

But at such a crucial moment, there was no room for hesitation.

Thus, Qii Yunming decisively cast his gaze at the Three Heroes and Two Talents.

Li Qiying nodded in understanding, immediately raising the Purple Cloud Sword.

"Activate the formation!"

"Boom!!!"

The Purple and Cyan Dual Swords once again performed in unison, cleaving a realm amidst the dust, transforming into Life and Death Illusion, Darklight Yin-Yang Six Gates, instantly severing the void, relocating those Three Fierce Swords along with the Taiyuan cultivators within.

Immediately, the battlefield was divided, and the Yin Yang Dust array further refined the Three Fierce Swords.

Outside the Yin Yang array, saber and sword stood together, facing the boundless demonic clouds with composure.

"Martial Madman?"

"Li Qingming?"

"Sword and Demon Examination?"

Mo Yunzi’s head stood tall as a mountain, looking down at the two, emitting bursts of chaotic demonic sound: "What gives you the confidence to dare face me alone?"

"Ha!"

Shen Hex smiled without responding, merely probing: "This Yin Yang Dust is the Taiyuan First Killing Formation. A hundred years ago, it failed to refine and kill the Three Fierce due to your Demon Forbidden Techniques igniting the West Sea’s Burning Jade and Stone. If you have no other means now, they are probably doomed!"

"Hahaha, then let’s see who is doomed!"

A probing remark was met with a cold laugh, and then a scene unfolded: magic clouds surged like the water of the celestial river pouring down, transforming midstream into a boundless sea of blood, raging furiously.

The blood sea poured down, carrying with it boundless filth and astonishing corrosive power. Within, myriad forms manifested: people, beasts, demons, and evildoers, all revealing bloodthirsty eyes, showing terrifying ferocity.

Indeed...

"First, try my Demon Heaven Blood Sea Array!"

Mo Yunzi’s words rang out again, as the boundless Sea of Blood surged and moved. Within, the Blood Demon Child also charged forth, like a swarm of locusts whistling towards Shen Hex.

"Slay demon!"

Shen Hex’s expression remained unchanged. He raised his hand, summoning a sword with unmatched fierceness that instantly severed the bloody water, turning thousands of Blood Demon Children into dust and ashes.

It was one of the Five Demon-locking Swords—Slay Demon!

What is a demon?

Conventionally, anything non-human, extraordinary, and transcendent is categorized as a demon.

But the demon referred to by the Slay Demon Sword is not of this kind; it refers to the "flesh and blood essence" type of demonic entities.

With flesh and blood, with spirit and soul, those who fall into the Demon Dao are demonic entities.

The Slay Demon Sword is actually the Blood-Slaying Sword, Meat-Cutting Sword, and Essence-Slaying Sword.

The Three Flowers and Five Qi: Essence Yuan pertains to flesh and blood, Qi Essence pertains to magical power, Divine Yuan pertains to spirit and soul.

This Slay Demon Sword specializes in attacking the essence yuan type, possessing the power to annihilate demonic entities’ life force, thus named Slay Demon.

Shen Hex summoned this sword, with unmatched fierceness soaring, severing the water of the Blood Sea and the life force of the Demon Dao.

Each art has its expertise; the sword slays demons, under the fierce edge of Slay Demon, the layers of the Blood Sea vanished, and the Blood Demon Children inside were also slain.

The vanishing blood water, and the slain blood demons still twisted and wriggled, trying to restore the life force of the Blood Sea and the power of the blood demons, but a force of annihilation acted upon them, instantly turning them into ashes.

Such is the sharpness of Slay Demon!

This Mo Yunzi, known as the West Sea Demon Venerable, was the foremost figure of the Taiyuan Demon Dao a thousand years ago, the leader of the Six Monsters of the Universe, astonishingly talented, learned throughout ancient times and present, though born of the Celestial Demon Palace, yet mastered the Taiyuan Demon Dao through various means, embodying the Demon Dao Myriad Phenomena.

Despite later being calculated by the Seven Taiyuan Cultivators in the righteous demon war, his primordial spirit being refined and killed by the Yin Yang Dust Array, relying on his body of unparalleled demon technique, he still escaped with a remnant soul.

This remnant soul escaped out of bounds, serendipitously encountering a True Demon, not only reconstructing the Purple Mansion and recreating his primordial spirit, his body of demon technique greatly advanced, eventually returning in triumph, using the Celestial Demon Array to besiege Taiyuan.

This array is based on demons, including the myriad phenomena of the Demon Dao, capable of transforming array with array; the Blood Sea Slaughter Immortal Formation is one of them, using the Blood Sea Slaughter Immortal Technique of the Blood Demon Dao, with the power of Demon Heaven generating the Blood Sea, and the Blood Sea generating blood demons; Demon Heaven perishing, Blood Sea undying; Blood Sea undying, blood demons unending; it specializes in attrition.

He conjured this array to probe Shen Hex while also exhausting Shen Hex’s strength.

But he didn’t anticipate Shen Hex had practiced the Slay Demon Sword!

Blood Sea undying, blood demons unending?

Then annihilate the Blood Sea, slay the blood demons.

Using system against system, this method specializing in essence yuan, capable of annihilating life force, the Slay Demon Sword, is the nemesis of this Blood Sea Array, the sword slays blood demons, annihilates Blood Sea, making it hard to revive.

"This flying sword..."

Facing Slay Demon’s might, Mo Yunzi expressed surprise, then decisively changed the array.

"Buzz!!!"

The array shifted, a buzzing sound resonated, and instantly the Blood Sea transformed into Demon Heaven. Countless Outer Celestial Demons swarmed in, demon sounds like tides, disturbing the hearts and minds of people.

It was Mo Yunzi’s foundation, formed by the Heavenly Demon Great Method, able to summon Outer Celestial Demons, attacking and killing cultivators’ primordial spirits.

"Ha!"

Then Shen Hex smiled, Slay Demon countered out, transformed into a sword light, and then he raised his hand to summon another sword.

"Demon Refining!"

"Boom!!!"

A sword appeared across the sky, like the great sun shining, brilliantly sword light erupted, also with infinite Demon Refining True Flame, burning the approaching Outer Celestial Demons in an instant, not even having time to cry out.

It was the second of the Five Demon-locking Swords—Demon Refining!

Slay Demon specializes in the essence yuan method, capable of exterminating the flesh and blood essence, life force of demonic entities.

Demon Refining specializes in the primordial spirit method, capable of burning and refining heart and spirit, external demon wicked thoughts.

This sword offered is like the sun in the sky, releasing infinite Demon Refining True Flame, burning external demons, also refining oneself; the Heavenly Demon Array couldn’t withstand it, instead suffered great damage.

"Humph!"

Mo Yunzi snorted coldly, the array transformed again, the Demonic Heavenly Array dissipated, replaced by demonic energy shaping various evil spirits.

This type is neither human nor beast; lacking flesh and blood form, lacking spirit and soul form, is the result of primordial spirit transforming into demon, what demonic energy produces, equivalent to demonic energy becoming spirits!

Thus named evil spirits, with different manifestations: some resembling demonic entities, some forming chaotic shapes, and some peculiar creatures, creating various anomalies, intended to ruin cultivators’ merit, True Essence Magical Power.

"Exorcism!"

"Exorcism!"

Shen Hex’s expression remained unchanged, first sending Demon Refining countered out, transformed into Demon Refining True Flame into the array, then summoned two flying swords, one with Spirit Light shining brightly, sweeping away demonic spirits and evil entities, the other restraining aura, protecting one’s own merit, purifying True Essence Magical Power.

It was the two swords of Exorcism and Exorcism!

Evil spirits, Qi Essence manifestation, are demon spirits.

Following the same principle, the Exorcism and Exorcism Sword paths also lead to Qi Essence; the former specializes in annihilation to exorcise evil, the latter specializes in life to protect oneself, purifying primordial qi, suppressing evil entities.

Shen Hex held two swords, sweeping away evil spirits’ manifestations.

"This flying sword... brat, you are calculating!"

Watching the evil spirit array also be restrained, Mo Yunzi shouted angrily, but to no avail; only able to change the array again, demonic spirits and evil entities vanished, transforming into myriad yin spirits, forming an extremely fierce ghostly situation.

"Come!"

Shen Hex’s expression remained unchanged, throwing out Exorcism and Exorcism, transforming into two sword lights into the array, and then summoning the Sword of Absolute Spirit, sweeping away myriad yin spirits and evil ghosts.